The prayer of Hannah (ii. 1–10); David’s lament over Saul’s death (II.,
i. 18–27); Parable of the prophet Nathan (xii. 1–6); Song of
thanksgiving by David (xxii.); David’s faith in God’s justice (xxiii.
1–7).
4. The first and the second books of Kings (מלכים א׳ וב׳), also
called the third and fourth books of Kings, contain the history of
Israel from the death of David to the Babylonian exile. The first book
describes the last days of King David, the reign of Solomon, the
division of the country into two kingdoms, Judah and Israel, the
history of the kingdom of Judah from Rehoboam to Jehoshaphat, and the
history of the kingdom of Israel from Jeroboam to Ahab. The second book
continues the history of the kingdom of Israel from Ahab to the
conquest of Samaria by Shalmanessar, king of Assyria, and that of the
kingdom of Judah from Abijam, son of Jehoshaphat, to the conquest of
Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon.
I., ii. 2: “I go the way of all the earth; be thou strong therefore,
and show thyself a man.”
xviii. 21: “How long halt ye between two opinions? If the Lord be God.
follow Him; but if Baal, then follow him.”
II., xiv. 9: “The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that
was in Lebanon, saying, Give thy daughter to my son to wife: and there
passed by a wild beast that was in Lebanon and trod down the thistle.”
[6]
Note, besides, prayer of Solomon (I., viii. 12–61) and message of
Isaiah to King Hezekiah (II., xix. 21–31).